Method and Apparatus for Converting Water into Hydrogen and Oxygen for a Heat and/or Fuel Source

ABSTRACT

A water separation apparatus is provided to separate hydrogen and oxygen from water that includes a reaction chamber containing a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates, a positive electrical terminal electrically connected to one of the conductive plates, and a negative electrical terminal electrically connected to another of the conductive plates. A mixture of water and a catalyst is placed in the chamber and in contact with the plates. A non-conductive adjuster plate is provided to separate the chamber into a front chamber and a rear chamber, and may include at least one fluid passageway. A portion of the plates are disposed in the front chamber and a portion of the plates are disposed in the rear chamber. The adjuster plate may include a moveable member adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluid passageway and thus the cross-sectional area of fluid communication between the front and rear chambers. The apparatus may include a collector-separator to collect gases from the reaction chamber and separate any remaining water from the gases. The separated water is returned to the reaction chamber, and the hydrogen and oxygen gases are transmitted to a bubbler assembly which functions to prevent any flashback from igniting the gases in the reaction chamber or collector-separator. The present invention will separate hydrogen from water in a more efficient manner than any previous technology, making it economically feasible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally pertains to heat and fuel sources, andmore particularly to an improved apparatus and method for breaking downwater into its constituent parts, i.e., hydrogen and oxygen.

2. Description of the Related Art

The process of electrolysis to separate hydrogen from water for use as afuel or heat source is well known. Examples of previously issued U.S.patents related to this process include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,931 (Inoue)entitled “Method of Electrolytically Generating Hydrogen and Oxygen forUse in a Torch or the Like”, U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,816 (Galluzzo, et al.)entitled “Electrolysis Method for Decomposing Water Into Hydrogen Gasand Oxygen Gas”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,558 (Chiang) entitled “Apparatusfor Generating a Mixture of Hydrogen and Oxygen for Producing a HotFlame”, U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,885 (Lin) entitled “Extraction Installationfor Hydrogen and Oxygen”, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,689,259 (Klein) entitled“Mixed Gas Generator”. But the processes and apparatus disclosed inthese patents has proved to be too costly and inefficient since theamount of energy input required to separate the hydrogen from the wateris greater than the amount of hydrogen energy created. As will becomeapparent from the following description and discussion, the presentinvention is directed to improved and more efficient devices and methodsof separating hydrogen from water, for use as either a heat source or afuel source, which are much more efficient than the prior art andeconomically viable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The summary of the invention is best understood with respect to thedescription and claims. One embodiment of the invention includes a waterseparation apparatus for separating hydrogen and oxygen from water. Thewater separation apparatus includes at least one reaction chamber. Thereaction chamber includes a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates,a positive electrical terminal electrically connected to one of theconductive plates, and a negative electrical terminal electricallyconnected to another of the conductive plates, at least one of theconductive plates not being electrically connected to the positiveterminal or the negative terminal. The embodiment also includes acollector-separator including at least one inlet conduit incommunication with the reaction chamber, and an outlet conduit; and abubbler including an outlet port and a perforated tube, the perforatedtube being in communication with the outlet conduit of thecollector-separator. The embodiment further includes a non-conductiveadjuster plate separating the reaction chamber into a front chamber anda rear chamber, the adjuster plate having at least one fluid passageway,and wherein a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed in thefront chamber and a portion of the spaced apart plates are disposed inthe rear chamber. In the embodiment, the adjuster plate includes amoveable member adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluidcommunication through the at least one fluid passageway between thefront and rear chambers.

In addition, in another embodiment, the water separation apparatusincludes two reaction chambers, each having a positive terminal and anegative terminal, and wherein the controller includes a series/parallelswitch wired to the terminals and adapted to switch the electricalconnections between a series electrical flow through the reactionchambers and a parallel electrical flow between the reaction chambers.The embodiment may also include a pressure regulator in fluidcommunication with the collector-separator and the bubbler, and adaptedto restrict electricity flow to the reaction chamber at a predeterminedhigh pressure and allow electricity flow to the reaction chamber at apredetermined low pressure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a specific embodiment of a portion ofthe hydrogen separation apparatus of the present invention, without thebubblers.

FIG. 2 is a partially cut away schematic representation of a left sideof the left chamber and left collector-separator, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a plate rack adapted for installation withinleft and right reaction chambers of the apparatus of the presentinvention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view in partial cross section of a bubbler that mayform part of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of two bubblers tied together in tandem toprevent flash back.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 2, andillustrates a specific embodiment of the adjuster plate of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of a gate assembly having anadjustable gate for adjusting the size of a slot in the adjuster plateshown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the gate assembly as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram illustrating how the left and right reactionchambers may be wired in series.

FIG. 10 is a wiring diagram illustrating how the left and right reactionchambers may be wired in parallel.

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the pin positions of the 4-pole doublethrow “On-On” switch that may be provided as part of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic of a sample configuration in which an embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention may be used in combinationwith one or more fuel cells.

FIG. 13 is a schematic of a sample configuration in which an embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention may be used in combinationwith any steam-driven device.

FIG. 14 is a schematic of a sample configuration in which an embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention may be used in combinationwith a combustion engine.

FIG. 15 is a schematic of a sample configuration in which an embodimentof the apparatus of the present invention may be used in combinationwith a combustion engine in the automotive context.

FIG. 16 is one embodiment of a water replenishing system of the presentinvention.

While the invention will be described in connection with the preferredembodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit theinvention to those embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to coverall alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be includedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims. Similar parts will be labeled with the same numbers in theFigures though a person of skill in the art would appreciate thatvarious alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be substitutedfor such similar parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As described above, the prior art techniques have attempted the processof separation of hydrogen and oxygen from water to generate a fuelsource. However, each prior art technique has inefficiencies. Inparticular, the main problem is that it requires more power to separatethe hydrogen and oxygen from the water than the energy produced for thefuel source.

The present invention is a water separation apparatus 10 for separationof water into hydrogen and oxygen for use as a fuel source thatovercomes the inefficiencies of the prior art. The inventionaccomplishes this task by using, inter alia, three main new components.First, the invention includes one or more reaction chambers that eachhas a series of multiple conductive plates, such as stainless steel,that are only connected by a non-conductive support rack. In eachreaction chamber, the conductive plates are separated in a first rack ina front chamber and a second rack in a rear chamber. Each of the frontand rear chambers are filled with water and catalyst to form anelectrolytically conductive water mixture. Of course, the amount ofcatalyst added can be adjusted to affect the conductivity of the mixtureand the current flow depending on the application desired.

In one embodiment, the front and rear end caps of the reaction chambershave front and rear conductive terminals that are not connected to theconductive plates on the racks. The front conductive terminal isconnected to a negative terminal or anode through which an electriccurrent from a voltage source flows into the reaction chamber while therear terminal is the positive terminal or cathode in which the electriccurrent flows out of the reaction chamber. The electric current appliedto the front and rear terminals flow through the electrolyticallyconductive water mixture in the reaction chamber. The electrical currentalong with the catalyst initiates the breakdown of the oxygen andhydrogen gas in the water around the conductive plates in the reactionchamber. The mixture of water and catalyst and capacitance of theconductive plates creates separation of the hydrogen and oxygen from thewater.

Second, an important feature of the present embodiment of the inventionis that the front and rear chambers are separated by a non-conductiveadjuster plate that regulates the amount of water and catalyst thatflows between the front and rear chambers and controls the electricalcurrent flow. The adjuster plate can be adjusted to provide for aspecific cross sectional area between the front and rear chambers ofeach reaction chamber to achieve the desired current flow and theoptimal amount of hydrogen and oxygen production.

Third, the reaction chambers may be configured to receive a set voltagein series or in parallel to control the current and gas outputs of thereaction chambers, and thus increase or decrease the output of hydrogenand oxygen. These and other important advantages of the embodiments ofthe present invention are described in more detail below with respect tothe figures.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals denotesimilar elements throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1a specific embodiment of a water separation apparatus 10 of the presentinvention denoted generally by the reference numeral 10. In thisspecific embodiment, the water separation apparatus 10 includes a leftand a right reaction chamber 12 and 14, a left and a rightcollector-separator 16 and 18, a pressure regulator 20, and a controller25. In this specific embodiment, the water separation apparatus 10 mayalso include a first and a second bubbler 74 and 76, as shown in FIG. 5.

In a specific embodiment, the left and right reaction chambers 12 and 14may be of similar construction, as will now be described in more detailwith reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, which illustrate the components ofreaction chamber 12 of the water separation apparatus 10. Though FIGS. 2and 3 illustrate reaction chamber 12 of the water separation apparatus10, the reaction chamber 14 is of similar construction and has similarparts with similar functions. In addition, in other embodiments only onereaction chamber may be used or more than two reaction chambers may beused depending on the application of the water separation apparatus 10.

Each reaction chamber 12 and 14 includes a housing 15, which, in thisspecific embodiment, is constructed from any non-conductive material,such as a section of PVC pipe. In a specific embodiment, the section ofPVC pipe may have a diameter of 8 inches and a length of about 20inches, but these dimensions and material are just examples of thisembodiment and should not be taken as a limitation of all embodiments ofthe reaction chambers 12 and 14. The reaction chambers 12 and 14 may beof various sizes and shapes and made of other materials depending againon the application of the water separation apparatus 10. In thisspecific embodiment, each of the reaction chambers 12 and 14 has frontand rear chambers 26 and 28. Each of the front and rear chambers 26 and28 are provided with a plurality of conductive plates 36. The pluralityof conductive plates may be supported for example by a plate rack 31, asshown in FIG. 3. Each rack 31 may include a support member 32 that isconfigured, such as with a plurality of slots, to hold the plurality ofplates 36. The racks 31 are preferably made from any non-conductivematerial, and in a specific embodiment may be molded as part of thehousing 15. In a specific embodiment, the plates 36 may have a thicknessof about 1/32 inches and are made of a conductive material such asstainless steel. The plates 36 may be thicker or thinner depending againon the requirements of the water separation apparatus 10. The conductiveplates 36 may be rectangular in shape with dimensions of about 4½ inchesby about 6½ inches, but this should not be taken as a limitation as theconductive plates 36 may be of any size or shape or thickness dependingon the application of the water separation apparatus 10. In addition,the number of conductive plates 36 may be adjusted depending on theapplication of the water separation apparatus 10. The plates 36 arephysically separated from each other and are not touching one anotherexcept by the non-conductive support rack member 32. In a specificembodiment, the plates 36 may be positioned about ⅛ to ½ inches apartfrom one another but again such dimensions may be modified depending onthe application, capacitance and output desired, and catalyst used inthe hydrogen generation apparatus 10.

As best shown in FIG. 2, in this specific embodiment, the front chamber26 and the rear chamber 28 of each reaction chamber 12 and 14 areseparated by a non-conductive adjuster plate or partition 30. Theadjuster plate 30 can be adjusted to provide for a specific crosssectional area between the front chamber 26 and rear chamber 28 toachieve the desired current flow and the optimal amount of catalystrequired to facilitate faster electrolysis with less power consumption.The adjuster plate 30 will be illustrated and discussed in more detailbelow.

As seen in FIG. 2, in this specific embodiment, the reaction chamber 12is sealably enclosed at each end with front and rear end caps 40 and 41,which are also preferably made of a non-conductive material, such asPVC. In a specific embodiment, each front and rear end caps 40 and 41are each provided with a conductive plate 42 attached thereto anddisposed within the chamber 12 and attached to the housing 15. The frontand rear end caps 40 and 41 are connected to the housing 15. Theconductive plates 42 on each front and rear end caps 40 and 41 arepreferably of the same size, shape and material as the plates 36 and arepreferably also generally aligned therewith when positioned on the frontand rear caps 40 and 41. In a specific embodiment, the front and rearend caps 40 and 41 are also provided with front and rear terminals 46and 48, respectively, each of which may extend from outside the reactionchamber 12 through its corresponding front and rear end cap 40 or 41 ina sealed manner (such as with rubber washers and silicone) and isconnected to its corresponding conductive plate 42 inside the reactionchamber 12. In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the frontterminal 46 may be the negative terminal or anode through which theelectric current from the controller 25 flows into the reaction chambers12 or 14 while the rear terminal 48 may be the positive terminal orcathode in which the electric current flows out of the chambers 12 or 14to the controller 25. Of course, the front terminal 46 may be thepositive terminal and the rear terminal 48 may be the negative terminaldepending on how each of the terminals 46 and 48 are connected to thecontroller 25.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this specific embodiment, the frontend cap 40 is preferably provided with a fluid input passageway or port50, which in a specific embodiment may be a PVC ninety degree elbow witha fill valve that is preferably located near the top of the end cap 40.The housing 15 is preferably provided with a sight tube 52 so that thefluid level within the chamber 12 can be monitored as the chamber 12 isbeing filled with fluid through the fluid input port 50, as will befurther discussed below. In this specific embodiment, the front end cap40 is also preferably provided with a drain hole and valve 54, which ispreferably located near the bottom of the end cap 40.

The collectors 16 and 18 function to collect hydrogen and oxygen gasfrom the chambers 12 and 14 and separate any liquid from the gas. Thisprocess will now be described with reference to FIG. 2. In this specificembodiment, each collector-separator 16 and 18 is similar inconstruction. FIG. 2 shows the details of the left collector-separator16 but a person of skill in the art would appreciate thatcollector-separator 18 has a similar design and components. In aspecific embodiment, the collector-separator 16 includes a housing 17which may be made from a non-conductive material, and in a specificembodiment may be made from a section of PVC pipe. In a specificembodiment, the section of PVC pipe may have a diameter of about 3inches and a length of about 10 inches, but this should not be taken asa limitation as the housing 17 may be of any size or shape or materialdepending on the application of the water separation apparatus 10. In aspecific embodiment, each end of the housing 17 may be enclosed with anend cap. In this specific embodiment, the collector-separator 16 mayinclude front and rear inlet conduits 56 and 58 connected to reactionchamber 12, and an outlet conduit 60. In a specific embodiment, each ofthe inlet conduits 56 and 58 and the outlet conduit 60 may be made froma section of PVC pipe. In a specific embodiment, the section of PVC pipemay have a diameter of about ½ inches and a length of about 4 inches,with a 2-inch section of each inlet conduit 56 and 58 disposed betweenthe collector-separators 16 and 18 and the reaction chambers 12 and 14and the remaining 2-inch section of the inlet conduit 56 and 58 disposedinside the collector-separators 16 and 18. Again, these dimensions arejust examples of a specific embodiment and are not limiting as theconduits 56/58/60 may be of any size or shape or material as a person ofskill in the art would appreciate depending on the application of thewater separation apparatus 10. Each inlet conduit 56 and 58 are disposedthrough inlet ports 59 in the bottom of the housing 17 and also throughexit ports 62 in the top of reaction chambers 12 and14. The exit ports62 are preferably located on opposite sides of the adjuster plate 30 sothat the front inlet conduit 56 will be positioned above the frontchamber 26 and the rear inlet conduit 58 will be positioned above therear chamber 28. In a specific embodiment, each inlet conduit 56 and 58may extend inside the collector-separator 16 so that the upper end ofeach inlet conduit 56 and 58 is spaced approximately one inch from theinternal top wall of the housing 17. Each inlet conduit 56 and 58includes a drain aperture 63 that may be transversely disposed throughthe wall of the inlet conduit 56 and 58 at a position preferably justabove the bottom of the housing 17 of the collector-separators 16 and18. Water that enters into or recombines from the hydrogen and oxygeninside the collector-separators 16 and 18 will drop to the bottom of thehousing 17 and travel through one of the drain apertures 63 and backinto the reaction chamber 12 or 14 through the inlet conduits 56 and 58.Of course, these dimensions are a specific embodiment and otherdimensions or mechanisms of water drainage from the collector-separators16 and 18 may be used depending on the application.

In a specific embodiment, the outlet conduit 60 may be disposed throughan exit port 64 in the top of the housing 17. In a specific embodiment,the outlet conduit 60 may extend inside the collector-separator 16 sothat the lower end of the outlet conduit 60 is spaced approximately oneinch from the internal bottom wall of the housing 17. As shown in FIG.1, in a specific embodiment, the top of the outlet conduit 60 ispreferably provided with a ninety-degree elbow and connected to atransverse conduit 66 that connects to the corresponding outlet conduit60 that exits the top of the right collector-separator 18 and the leftcollector-separator 16. In a specific embodiment, the transverse conduit66 may be provided with a “tee” fitting about midway between the leftand right collector-separators 16 and 18 and connected to a parallelconduit 68. The parallel conduit 68 may include a pressure gauge 70 andbe connected to the pressure regulator 20. In this embodiment, theparallel conduit 68 is connected to a transfer conduit 72 that leads tothe first and second bubbler 74 and 76, which will be described belowwith respect to FIG. 5. In a specific embodiment, each of the conduits66, 68 and 72 may be made from ½ inch PVC pipe, though of coursedifferent dimensions and materials may be used for the conduitsdepending on the application of the water separation apparatus 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, in this specific embodiment, eachbubbler 74 and 76 may be in the form of an inverted, generally “T”shaped pipe assembly and include a horizontal leg 78 and a vertical leg80. One of the functions of the bubblers 74 and 76 is to serve as abarrier between any point of ignition of hydrogen leaving the waterseparation apparatus 10 and the reaction chambers 12 and 14. Thebubblers 74 and 76 may be of various configurations rather than a Tshaped pipe assembly as shown to perform this function. If the gas wereto become ignited within the line 90 or other further lines connectedfurther down from line 90, the flames would not be able to penetratepast the two bubblers 74 and 76 into the reaction chambers 12 and 14.Two bubblers 74 and 76 are preferred for fail safe redundancy, but onemay be used or more than two may be used depending on the application.In this embodiment of the invention, the two bubblers 74 and 76 arepreferably filled with a liquid 79, as seen in FIG. 4, such as water.The liquid 79 has a level 81 that is about 4 inches below the top end 85of the vertical leg 80 of the bubblers 74 and 76. Other levels may alsobe used in different embodiments. In this specific embodiment, thebubblers 74 and 76 may be constructed from metal pipe. In a specificembodiment, the horizontal leg 78 may be made from 2½ inch diametermetal pipe and have a length of about 16 inches. In a specificembodiment, the vertical leg may be made from 2½ inch diameter metalpipe and have a length of about 20 inches. Again, these dimensions arerepresentative only, and non-limiting, as the legs 78 and 80 may be ofother sizes or shapes or materials depending on the application of thehydrogen separator apparatus 10.

In a specific embodiment, each bubbler 74 and 76 may be provided with aperforated tube 82 within the horizontal leg 78 of each bubbler 74 and76, which, in a specific embodiment, may be made from ¼ inch diametercopper tubing. Each of the tubes 82 in the bubblers 74 and 76 enter onthe right end 84 of the horizontal leg 78 and extend through thehorizontal leg 78. An enclosed end 83 of the tube 82 is located near theleft end 86 of the horizontal leg 78 of each bubbler 74 and 76. Theright end 84 of the horizontal leg 78 may be provided with appropriatereducer fittings to mate with the tube 82. In this specific embodiment,the tube 82 is connected to the transfer conduit 72 shown in FIG. 1,which transfers the hydrogen and oxygen gas from thecollector-separators 16 and 18 to the first bubbler 74.

As shown in FIG. 4, the hydrogen and oxygen gas flows through the tube82 and exits through the perforations 89 in the tube 82 in the form ofsmall separated bubbles 88, which float upwardly through the liquid 79and out of the first bubbler 74 through an exit tube 90 at the top end85 of the vertical leg 80. Though a perforated tube 82 is shown in thisembodiment, other configurations may be used to pass the hydrogen andoxygen gases, such as a screen, that separates the gas bubbles from thetransfer conduit 72 and collector-separators 16 and 18. In a specificembodiment, the exit tube 90 may be a ¼ inch section of copper tubingthrough other sizes and materials may be used depending on theapplication of the water separation apparatus 10. The top end 85 of thevertical leg 78 is preferably provided with appropriate reducer fittingsto mate with the exit tube 90, and also a check valve 87.

The check valve 87 in each of the bubblers 74 and 76 assumes a normallyclosed position due to pressure created within the bubblers 74 and 76during operation of the apparatus. But in the case of flashback (i.e.,if the gases exiting the bubblers 74 or 76 are ignited), a vacuum willbe formed in the space above the water level 81, which will brieflyaccelerate the rate at which the bubbles will rise from the perforatedtube 82 and will also cause the check valve 87 in that bubbler to openand allow the pressure inside the bubblers 74 and 76 to equalize withthe pressure outside the bubblers 74 and 76. The electrolysis processwill then begin again on its own without harm to the reaction chambers12 and 14 or ignition of a dangerous amount of gas in thecollector-separators 16 and 18. Pressure will build back up and thecheck valve 87 in the bubbler 74 or 76 will return to its normallyclosed position, and the apparatus will automatically return to normaloperation.

In a specific embodiment, the exit tube 90 of the first bubbler 74 isconnected to the right end 84 of the second bubbler 76 and extends intothe horizontal leg 78 of the second bubbler 76 in the same manner asdiscussed above (i.e., with perforations 89 through which the gas canbubble upwardly). The gas exiting the exit tube 90 on the second bubbler76 is ready for use as a fuel or heat source. The redundant bubblers 74and 76 are preferably used as a safety feature so as to prevent anypotential flash back from reaching the collector-separators 16 and 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 6-8, there is an adjuster plate 30that is within each of the reaction chambers 12 and 14 and separateseach reaction chamber 12 and 14 into a front and rear internal chambers26 and 28. The adjustor plate 30 in each reaction chamber 12 and 14 willnow be described in more detail. In a specific embodiment, the adjusterplate 30 is made from a non-conductive material, such as plastic, and isof appropriate size and shape to sealably fit within the chambers 12 and14. As shown in FIG. 6, the adjuster plate 30 may be circular in shapeand sealably welded to the internal wall of the housing 15 in each ofthe reaction chambers 12 and 14. The top of the adjuster plate 30 ispreferably provided with a generally horizontal or straight edge 92 soas to form an opening 94 between the top of the housing 15 and the edge92 so that separated gasses may flow between the front and rear chambers26 and 28 in each of the reaction chambers 12 and 14. The adjuster plate30 also preferably includes two conductive plates 96, which are attachedto opposite sides of the adjuster plate 30, such as by welding. Theconductive plates 96 are preferably of the same size, shape and materialas the plates 36 and 42 discussed above, and are preferably generallyaligned therewith.

With reference to FIG. 6, the adjuster plate 30 in each of the reactionchambers 12 and 14 is also preferably provided with at least one fluidpassageway, such as a left slot 98 and a right slot 100, or the adjusterplate 30 could alternatively be provided with other types of valves,such as gate, ball, globe or butterfly valves, of the type well known tothose of ordinary skill in the art. In a specific embodiment, each slot98 and 100 may be in the shape of a generally inverted triangle, havinga width of about ¼ inch at the lower tip, a width of about 1 inch at thetop, and a height of about 3 inches, or other shapes depending on theapplication of the water separation apparatus 10. In another embodiment,there may simply be holes drilled through the plate 30 as more fullydiscussed below. In a specific embodiment, the adjuster plate 30 mayalso be provided with a left gate assembly 102 and a right gate assembly104.

In a specific embodiment, each gate assembly 102 and 104 includes a gate106, an adjusting rod 108, and an exterior support 110. The gate 106 ispreferably made from a non-conductive material, and may have an inverted“L” shaped side profile. The gate 106 may have a flange 107 shown inFIG. 7 that has a threaded hole 109 adapted for threadable engagementwith a threaded end 112 of the adjusting rod 108. The top of the rods108 may be rotatably mounted to the supports 110 outside of the reactionchambers 12 and 14 so that rotation of the rod 108 by the supports 110will cause the gate 106 to move up and down within guide tracks 114 thatare connected to the adjuster plate 30. In this specific embodiment, theadjuster plate 30 may include two guide tracks 114 for each gate 106,with each track 114 being located away from the slots 98/100 so that thetracks 114 will not obstruct fluid flow through the slots 98/100. Asfurther discussed below, the position of the gates 106 can be adjustedto regulate the cross-sectional area of contact between the liquid inthe front and rear chambers 26 and 28 of each reactive chamber 12 and14. This allows for precision control of the current flow or amperagedraw to control the capacitive reactance between the plates 36/42/96 inthe front and rear chambers 26/28, which allows control over the amountof hydrogen and oxygen gas supplied to the bubblers 76/78. It alsoultimately allows control over the amount of catalyst needed to be addedto the water in the reaction chambers 12 and 14 depending on thecross-sectional area of the gates 106 selected for the application ofthe water separation apparatus 10. It can now be seen that there is adirect relationship between the surface area exposed through theadjuster plate 30 and the amount of hydrogen and oxygen gas generated bythe water separation apparatus 10. Thus, the adjustments to thecross-sectional areas of the gates 106 in the adjustor plate 30 betweenthe front and rear chambers 26 and 28 controls the amounts of currentflow through the adjustor plate 30 as well as the amount of gas producedby the water separation apparatus 10. As the mixture of water andcatalyst and current flow is increased, the capacitance of theconductive plates is increased and creates more separation of thehydrogen and oxygen from the water.

There are at least two methods of adjusting or controlling theelectrical flow between the front and rear chambers 26 and 28. First,the exposed cross-sectional area through the adjuster plate 30 maysimply be holes drilled through the plate 30, e.g., slots 98 and 100. Inthis embodiment, it is not necessary to have a means of closing orcovering the holes 98 and 100, such as a gate valve or the gateassemblies 102 and 104. Instead, the electrical flow between the frontand rear chambers 26 and 28 in each of the reaction chambers 12 and 14is controlled by the cross-sectional area of the holes 98 and 100through the adjustor plate 30 in each reaction chamber, and/or by thecomposition of the mixture of the electrolyte (or catalyst) in thewater. For example, to increase the electrical flow between the frontand rear chambers 26 and 28, the number and/or size of the holes 98 and100 in the adjuster plate 30 could be increased, and/or the amount ofelectrolyte/catalyst could be increased in the front and rear chambers26 and 28. Similarly, to decrease the electrical flow between the frontand rear chambers 26 and 28, the number and/or size of the holes 98 and100 in each of the adjustor plates 30 could be decreased and/or theamount of the electrolyte/catalyst could be decreased in the reactionchambers 12 and 14. In this manner, the electrical flow within thechambers 26 and 28 can be controlled, which will thus allow the operatorto control the amount of gases exiting the water separation apparatus10, and thus enable control over the amount of electricity or heat orother fuel source being produced.

Second, any adjustable device (e.g., a gate valve or the gate assemblies102 and 104) can be used to create a variable adjustment through theadjuster plate 30 to the exposed surface area between the front and rearchambers 26 and 28, which will affect the amount of electrical currentflow through this direct relationship of surface area between the frontand rear chambers 26 and 28. This adjustment in surface area of theadjuster plate 30 may also allow the optimum amount ofelectrolyte/catalyst to be used in the reaction chambers 12 and 14. Theelectrical current in each of the reaction chambers 12 and 14 can thusbe adjusted by controlling the surface area exposed between the frontchamber 26 and rear chamber 28, and will optimize the water separationapparatus 10 to its fullest potential for separation of hydrogen andoxygen gas.

The adjustment of the gates 106 can be accomplished mechanically by anoperator who physically adjusts the adjusting rod 108 using exteriorsupport 110 shown in FIG. 6. Alternatively, the adjustment of the gates106 can be controlled automatically by a control signal from controller25. The controller 25 would include an amperage control unit that wouldmonitor the amperage through the reaction chambers 12 and 14. If theamperage falls below a certain level, the controller 25 can signal thegates 106 or 108 of the reaction chamber having low amperage to open orincrease cross-sectional area to increases the amount of current flowingthrough the affected chambers 12 and 14 and thus, increase the rate atwhich the hydrogen and oxygen gases are produced. On the other hand, ifthe amperage control unit in the controller 25 determines that theamperage in one or both of the reaction chambers exceeds an amperageoperating point, the controller 25 can signal the gates 106 to decreasecross-sectional area to decrease the amount of current flowing throughthe reaction chambers 12 and 14 and thus, decrease the rate at which thehydrogen and oxygen gases are produced.

If the amperage falls too far below a set operating point, then a checklight could be initiated by the controller 25 for an operator to checkthe water separation apparatus 10 for any problems. In addition, if theamperage in one or more of the reaction chambers 12 and 14 exceeds asafe operating point, the controller 25 can initiate an automaticshutdown of that reaction chamber.

Thus, an important improvement in this embodiment of the invention isthat the amount of hydrogen and oxygen gas produced by the reactionchambers 12 and 14 can be quickly regulated by adjusting the position ofthe gates 106 in the adjuster plate in each reaction chamber to controlthe cross-sectional contact area between the front chamber 26 and therear chambers 28. As explained previously, by increasing thecross-sectional area between the front chamber 26 and the rear chamber28, additional current flow or amperage is allowed to flow between thetwo chambers. Thus, the adjustment of the gates 106 provides forprecision control of amperage draw to control the capacitive reactancebetween the plates 36/42/96 in the front and rear chambers 26 and 28. Asthe cross-sectional area of the gates 106 increases, the liquid andcatalyst contact area increases between the conductive plates 36 and 42and 96. This increase in the amount of current flowing through thechambers 12 and 14 will also increase the rate at which the hydrogen andoxygen gases separate from the water. Likewise, as the contact areadecreases, the current flow and creation rate of the gases will alsodecrease.

As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 6, in a specific embodiment, each reactionchamber 12 and 14 also includes two cooling tubes 116 and 118, one oneach side of the reaction chamber 12 and 14, that may be disposed ingenerally parallel relationship and run the full length of each reactionchamber 12 and 14 and extend outside of each end of the reactionchambers 12 and 14 and function as heat exchangers. Water or otherfluids may be passed through the cooling tubes 116 and 118 to transferheat away from inside the reaction chambers 12 and 14. Though coolingtubes 116 and 118 are shown in this embodiment, any other suitable heatexchangers can be used depending on the application.

The controller 25 and the manner in which it is electrically connectedto the various components of the water separation apparatus 10 will nowbe explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 9-11. Referring first to FIG.1, the controller 25 includes an on/off switch 122 that is wired to thepressure regulator 20. The pressure regulator 20 may be anyoff-the-shelf pressure regulator that allows regulation of pressurewithin a minimum and maximum range. There are many makes and models ofavailable pressure regulators on the market that may be used, as will bereadily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. By way ofexample only, such a pressure regulator may be Part No. 9013 GSG2 madeunder the “Square D” brand by Schneider Electric, of Paris, France. In aspecific embodiment, the pressure regulator 20 is located between thecollector-separators 16 and 18 and the bubblers 76 and 78. In thisspecific embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pressure regulator 20 isplugged into an 110V wall outlet though a person of skill in the artwould appreciate many other voltage sources at different voltage levelsmay be used depending on the application. For example, a battery,alternator, fuel cell, solar panel, etc may provide the currentnecessary to operate the water separation apparatus 10. The pressureregulator 20 is configured to allow current to flow through to thecontroller 25 when certain predetermined “high” and “low” pressures fromthe collector-separators 16 and 18 are present. For example, theregulator 20 may be configured to cut power to the water separationapparatus 10 at a high pressure of 50 p.s.i. and turn power back on whenthe pressure reaches a low pressure of 35 p.s.i. Of course thesespecific high and low pressure levels may be adjusted depending on theapplication of the water separation apparatus 10. In addition, thepressure regular 20 may be adjusted by a device to control thecontroller 25 to adjust the current to the water separation apparatus 10to provide more or less hydrogen production as needed.

In a specific embodiment, the controller 25 may include a full waverectified DC converter that can be frequency pulsed, and convert the ACpower coming from the regulator 20 into variable pulsing DC power whichis provided to the reaction chambers 12 and 14.

In a specific embodiment, the controller 25 may also include a 4-poledouble throw On-On switch 124. As best shown in FIGS. 9-11, the chambers12 and 14 may be configured such that the reaction chambers 12 and 14are arranged in series with respect to the voltage source oralternatively switched by switch 124 to be configured in parallel withrespect to the voltage source. Switching the reaction chambers 12 and 14from series to parallel with respect to the voltage source will resultin a marked increase in the electrical flow through reaction chambers,which will increase the amount of gas being generated by the waterseparation apparatus 10, and thereby increase the power or heatgenerated through the use of the water separation apparatus 10. Thus,the reaction chambers 12 and 14 may be controlled by the switch 124 tobe configured in “series” with respect to the voltage source for slow oridle requirements, and may be switched to “parallel” with respect to thevoltage source for a higher demand of delivery of hydrogen and oxygen.

The manner of operation of the specific embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIGS. 1-11 will now be described. With reference toFIG. 1, the left and right chambers 12 and 14 are filled with a liquidmixture of water and catalyst that forms an electrolytically conductivewater mixture. The catalyst may be one or more of any appropriatecatalyst for creating an electrolyte in the water, such as potassiumhydroxide or any other suitable catalyst now known to or later developedby those of ordinary skill in the art. In the specific embodimentdescribed above, an example of a water-catalyst mixture that could beused may comprise 4½ gallons of water mixed with 17½ ounces of potassiumhydroxide depending on the embodiment of the water separation apparatus10. The catalyst is used to regulate the electrolytic effect between theplates 36 and 42 and 96. The catalyst is also used to break down thesurface tension of the water so the individual atoms (of hydrogen andoxygen) can more quickly travel to the surface inside the reactionchambers 12 and 14 and be extracted for use. The catalyst does not enterinto the reaction so it stays in the reaction chambers 12 and 14 andonly the hydrogen and oxygen are extracted. The amount and type ofcatalyst added to the reaction chambers 12 and 14 affects the currentflow in the reaction chambers and the amount of hydrogen and oxygengenerated and so can be another control for the production of the waterseparation apparatus 10.

In a specific embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the adjuster plate30 also preferably includes a liquid leveling hole 120 at the bottom ofthe adjuster plate 30. The liquid mixture is poured into the reactionchambers 12 and 14 through the fluid input passageway 50. The fluidmixture will enter the front internal chamber 26 and flow through to therear internal chamber 28 through the liquid leveling hole 120 in theadjuster plate 30. The sight tubes 52 are used to assist in filling thereaction chambers 12 and 14 to the desired level. With reference to FIG.6, in this specific embodiment, it is preferred that the reactionchambers 12 and 14 be filled to a level about ¾ inches below the topedge 92 of the adjuster plate 30. The pressure regulator 20 is pluggedinto the wall outlet (or connected by other means to another voltagesource as explained above) and the controller 25 is switched to the “On”position. The 4-pole switch 124 is also set to the desired setting(i.e., series or parallel) depending on the required amount of gas perminute or the load requirements of the system or device to which thehydrogen is supplied from the water separation apparatus 10. For lowergas requirements the switch 124 will be set to the “series” position andfor higher gas requirements the switch 124 will be set to the “parallel”position. In a specific embodiment, if the regulator 20 is reading apressure of the “minimum” setting (e.g., 35 p.s.i.) or lower, thencurrent will flow to the reaction chambers 12 and 14 and through thewater/catalyst mixture, and the electrolysis process will commence. Asthe water comes into contact with the conductive plates, the waterbreaks down into its hydrogen and oxygen components. The hydrogen andoxygen gases will bubble upwardly through the liquid mixture and intothe space above the liquid fluid level and out of the reaction chambers12 and 14 through the inlet conduits 56 and 58 and into thecollector-separators 16 and 18. The gases and any associated liquid willflow out of the tops of the inlet conduits 56 and 58 and into thecollector-separators 16 and 18. Any liquid that does seep up through theinlet conduits 56 and 58 will drop to the bottom of thecollector-separators 16 and 18 and flow through the small holes 63 inthe inlet conduits 56 and 58 that are just above the bottom of thehousing 17 (see FIG. 2).

The gases will then circulate down and up into the bottom of the outletconduit 60 and then through the conduits 66, 68 and 72 to the firstbubbler 74. The gases will flow through the tubes 82 and bubble throughthe water 79 in each of the bubblers 74 and 76. The separated hydrogenand oxygen gas streams exiting the exit tube 90 of the second bubbler 76is ready for use “on demand” for whatever purpose desired (e.g., as afuel or heat source). These gases can be produced for immediate use, ondemand, and may be produced at low pressures, such as more or less than50 p.s.i.

A working model of the specific embodiment of the present invention hasbeen built, tested and proven to generate hydrogen on demand in a mannerfar more efficient. With the present invention, the energy into thesystem is much less than the generated energy out of the system, in theform of hydrogen gas. It is expected that the present invention willhave a significant impact on the way in which energy is generated aroundthe world, and thus have a significant impact on the world economy. Thisfollows from the fundamental premise that there is a direct relationshipbetween the amount of energy a country generates and its gross nationalproduct. Indeed, it is believed that the present invention will usher inand form the foundation of the new era of the hydrogen-based economyPresident Bush spoke of in his Feb. 2, 2006 letter announcing theAmerican Competitiveness Initiative. And the present invention has avast number of uses. At a very basic level, it can be used as a fuelsource or as a heat source. A few specific examples of how the presentinvention can be used are described below.

One way in which the present invention could be utilized is incombination with one or more fuel cells to generate electricity. In thisregard, as shown in FIG. 12, the exit tube 90 of the apparatus 10 may beconnected to a proton exchange membrane, also known as a polymerelectrolyte membrane (“PEM”) 130. The hydrogen and oxygen gases flowfrom the apparatus 10 through the exit tube 90 and into the PEM 130. ThePEM 130 separates the hydrogen and oxygen gases into a hydrogen gasstream and an oxygen gas stream. The PEM 130 is connected to a fuel cell136. More specifically, a hydrogen conduit 132 is connected between thePEM 130 and the fuel cell 136 to feed the hydrogen gas stream from thePEM 130 to the appropriate portion of the fuel cell 136, and an oxygenconduit 134 is connected between the PEM 130 and the fuel cell 136 tofeed the oxygen gas stream from the PEM 130 to the appropriate portionof the fuel cell 136. The fuel cell 136 includes a negative terminal 138and a positive terminal 140. The electricity generated through the fuelcell 136 may be used for any purpose. For example, the fuel cell 136could be connected to an electric motor for powering a car, a boat or alawn mower. One of the advantages of the use of the water separationapparatus 10 in a car, boat or a lawn mower is that it will decrease thenoise currently associated with boat motors, car engines and lawnmowers. The present invention can also be used to supply electricity toa commercial building, a private residence or an entire city. Forexample, instead of paying the local electric company on a monthly basisfor the amount of electricity used each month, a homeowner could installa system such as shown in FIG. 12 to supply electricity to the house,instead of connecting to the local power grid.

Still referring to the fuel cell example, the number of fuel cells canbe varied or provided in a “stacked” manner depending on the current andvoltage requirements for any particular application. The fuel cellconfiguration is environmentally friendly, in that it will put oxygenback into the atmosphere, as opposed to the undesirable ozone-creating“Greenhouse” emissions of a hydrocarbon powered engine on a car or boator lawn mower. The fuel cell 136 may further include an oxygen outlet142 and a water outlet 144. The water from the water outlet 144 may bepiped back to the apparatus 10 for separation into hydrogen and oxygengases. Another advantage of this fuel cell example, such as in the caror boat context, is that it entails no moving parts other than anelectric motor.

Another way in which the present invention could be put to use is incombination with any steam-driven device. In this regard, for example,as shown in FIG. 13, the exit tube 90 of the water separation apparatus10 may be connected to a burner 146, where the gases from the apparatus10 are ignited and burned to heat a vessel of water to create steam. Thesteam may be supplied to any steam-driven device. For example, the steamcould be used to power a steam-driven train. As another example, asshown in FIG. 13, the steam may be supplied through a steam conduit 148to a steam-driven turbine 150. The steam will cause the turbine torotate, which will rotate a turbine output shaft 152. The shaft 152 maybe used to power any device desired. For example, as shown in FIG. 13,the shaft 152 could be connected to a generator 154 to generateelectricity. The electricity can be provided to any device or systemdesired through negative and positive terminals 156 and 158. Forexample, this configuration could be used on a large scale in a powerplant to supply electricity to an entire city. As another alternative,instead of connecting the turbine output shaft 152 to a generator, itcould be used as a drive shaft to rotate the wheels on any type ofvehicle. Other examples that involve the use of flames created byigniting the gases may include disposal of waste materials, in ovens, ingas burners and in distillation and desalinization processes. Forexample, the flames can be used to heat salt water from the ocean toproduce steam that can be collected and condensed into fresh water atextremely low costs.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment where the water separation unit 10 maybe used alone to run a fuel cell stack to create enough energy tooperate an electric motor. In this regard, for example, as shown in FIG.14, the exit tube 90 of the water separation apparatus 10 may beconnected to an engine 160, such as by feeding the hydrogen gas streamfrom the water separation apparatus directly into the engine'scarburetor to be used as the engine's fuel source. An output shaft 162of the engine 160 may be connected to any device or system poweredthrough the use of rotary motion. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, theoutput shaft 162 may be connected to a generator 164 having negative andpositive terminals 166 and 168, respectively. In the same manner asexplained above, the electricity generated by the generator 164 may beused to energize any device or system that runs off of electricity. Inthe marine industry, the output shaft 162 could be on an inboard oroutboard boat motor for boats or lawn mowers that will run efficiently.Again, the general approach represented in FIG. 14 has the sameadvantages as described above, including that there are no undesirableemissions that are harmful to the atmosphere.

In each of the above embodiments, the water separation unit may be usedalone or in combination with another fuel source, such a gasoline fuelwith a combustion engine if an additional energy source is needed. Evenif used with a combustion engine using gasoline, the water separationunit 10 will help reduce green house effects and help the atmosphere andeconomy by reducing the need for use of gasoline and its byproducts.

Another way in which the present invention may be used in combinationwith a combustion engine is in the automotive context. For example, asshown in FIG. 15 a car 170 is shown having a combustion engine 180(i.e., just like nearly every car and truck on the road today). But whatis different about the car 170 shown here is that it also includes anembodiment of the water separation apparatus 10 of the present inventionwith the exit tube 90 connected to the engine 180 so that the hydrogenand oxygen gas stream generated by the apparatus 10 can be used as thefuel source for the engine 180 or as a supplemental fuel source inaddition to gasoline as explained above. In this example, the gases fromthe exit tube 90 may be fed directly into the carburetor, as explainedabove. Since the hydrogen gases burn more rapidly and hotter thanconventional hydrocarbon fuels, changes to a typical car engine may beimplemented, such as advancing the timing to make sure the valves areclosed during the combustion cycle, and modifying the intakes toaccommodate a gas fuel instead of a liquid fuel. The car 170 may also beprovided with a tank 171 for holding water. The water is fed to theapparatus 10 through a conduit 176. The apparatus 10 may be providedwith a mixer for controlling fluid flow and mixture composition flowingto the reactions chambers of the apparatus 10. At periodic automotivecheck-ups, the percentage of catalyst in the water in the tank 171 maybe checked and adjusted if necessary on an as needed basis.

In this automotive example, the series/parallel switch 124 may belocated on the dashboard of the car 170 so that the driver may switch toparallel mode when a higher boost of on-demand power is needed.Alternatively, the switch between series and parallel may beautomatically accomplished through an acceleration system that requiresno manual input. For example, if the automobile needs extraacceleration, the automobile will automatically switch to parallel mode.

This automotive example also represents a significant improvement overthe way in which the automotive industry is currently using hydrogen asa fuel source. In more particular, hydrogen-powered cars currently usehigh pressure canisters of stored hydrogen on-board the car. Drawbacksto the current approach are that these high pressure canisters present apotential safety hazard (e.g., through rupture), and also that thecanisters need to be replenished at a hydrogen gas station. With thepresent invention, on the other hand, the hydrogen is produced on boardand not until it is needed, and the only “fuel” that needs to bereplenished is water. An added benefit of the present invention is thatthe stored water tank 171 can be used as a crash-dampening design forsafety as water does not have the volatility of gasoline. Yet anotheradvantage is that a car that is powered by hydrogen gas created usingthe present invention does not have any harmful or detrimentalemissions. There will be no harmful and detrimental emissions only ifthe car's power is generated by fuel cells. If the gas supplements agasoline burn, then we will still have some harmful and detrimentalemissions from the gasoline burn. Another advantage of this approach isthat gas consumption will be reduced and efficiency will be increasedthrough higher miles per gallon of gasoline. Another advantage is thathorsepower will be increased.

In one embodiment of the invention, a method of regulating the waterlevel in reaction chambers 12 and 14 is shown in FIG. 16. Reactionchamber 12 includes water level control actuator 200 while reactionchamber 14 includes water level control actuator 202. Both water levelcontrol actuators 200 and 202 measure the level of water in theirrespective reaction chambers 12 and 14. When a low level of water isdetected, the water level control actuators signal the solenoids 210 and208. So for example, if water level actuator 200 in reaction chamber 12detects a low water level, then the water level actuator 200 signalssolenoid 208 over wire 204. Similarly, if water level actuator 202 inreaction chamber 14 detects a low water level in reaction chamber 14,then the water level actuator 202 signals solenoid 210 over wire 206.The solenoid 208 or 210 which has been signaled with a low water level,then signals fill pump 216 over lines 212 or 214 respectively. The fillpump 216 then initiates pumping of water 220 from water reservoir 218through pipe 222 through fill pump 216 to Y pipe 224. The solenoid 208or 210 that signaled the low water level will open its valve while theother solenoid 208 or 210 will maintain its valve closed. Thus, thewater from Y-pipe 224 will only flow through the solenoid 208 or 210that has received a low water signal from its respective actuator. Forexample, if water level actuator 202 in reaction chamber 14 signaled alow water level over wire 206, then solenoid 210 would open its valveand water would flow from the pump 216 through solenoid 210 into pipe226. The water would then enter the reaction chamber 14 through inletconduit 50. During the filling stage, the pressure in the reactionchambers 12 and 14 can be maintained at a similar level due to the pumpused to overcome the chamber pressure for fill and that the reactionchambers 12 and 14 are connected by the collectors 16 and 18.

If both water level actuators 200 and 202 detect a low water level inboth reaction chambers 12 and 14 concurrently, then both solenoids 208and 210 would open and water would flow into both reaction chambers 12and 14. The water reservoir 218 may be placed in a bumper, part of aframe of a car or any spare hollow space. It could also be used as asafety device to dampen crash impact.

It should further be understood that the above description provided oneembodiment of the present invention and the described embodiment is notlimited to any particular shape, dimensions or size or materials. Forexample, while specific dimensions have been provided for the specificembodiments described above, those dimensions do not limit the scope ofthe invention, and the invention may be provided on any scale. Forexample, if the invention is to be used to supply electricity to anentire city, then the invention would be constructed on a much largerscale, and may also include numerous units “stacked” or grouped togetherdepending on the amount of electricity needed. As just one non-limitingexample, five (or any number) of the dual-chamber systems shown in theFigures could be stacked or grouped together and the hydrogen exitingeach of the second bubblers 76 may be transmitted to the same targetdevice or system intended to use the hydrogen, whether for a heat orfuel source. By implementing this stacking or grouping approach, in theevent of a failure of one of the units, the failed unit can be removedfor repair without ceasing operation of the other units. The waterseparation apparatus 10 may also be designed for a variety of standardload ratings and be treated as an off-the-shelf item with the particularunit being selected on a case-by-case basis depending on the loadrequirements of each application. The apparatus 10 may also be providedwith any number of reaction chambers, not just the two reaction chambers12 and 14 as shown for example in FIG. 2.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exactdetails of construction, operation, exact materials or embodiments shownand described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparentto one skilled in the art. For example, the chambers 12/14 arecylindrical in shape and have been used as part of a preferredembodiment to incorporate the higher pressure holding capability ofcurved surfaces. But the present invention is not limited to chambershaving curved surfaces, and also covers other shapes, including but notlimited to square or rectangular boxes and enclosures of any other shapeor configuration. Similarly, while the specific embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-11 is provided with two collector-separators, it could also beprovided with a single collector-separator that with inlet ports influid communication with each of the chambers 12/14. Accordingly, theinvention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A reaction chamber for use in separating hydrogen and oxygen fromwater including: a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates disposedwithin a housing, a positive electrical terminal electrically connectedto one of the conductive plates, and a negative electrical terminalelectrically connected to another of the conductive plates, at least oneof the conductive plates not being electrically connected to thepositive terminal or the negative terminal.
 2. The reaction chamber ofclaim 1, further including a mixture of water and a catalyst within thehousing and in contact with the plates.
 3. The reaction chamber of claim2, wherein the mixture of water and catalyst and capacitance of theconductive plates creates separation of the hydrogen and oxygen from thewater.
 4. The reaction chamber of claim 1, further including anon-conductive adjuster plate separating the housing into a frontchamber and a rear chamber, the adjuster plate having at least one fluidpassageway, and wherein a portion of the spaced apart plates aredisposed in the front chamber and a portion of the spaced apart platesare disposed in the rear chamber.
 5. The reaction chamber of claim 4,wherein the adjuster plate sets a cross-sectional area of the mixture ofwater and catalyst in communication between the front and rear chambers.6. The reaction chamber of claim 5, wherein the adjuster plate includesa first and a second conductive plate disposed on opposite sides of theadjustor plate.
 7. The reaction chamber of claim 1, wherein the adjustorplate may adjust the cross sectional area set between the front and rearchambers.
 8. A first reaction chamber for use in separating hydrogen andoxygen from water including: a plurality of spaced apart conductiveplates disposed within a housing, a positive electrical terminalelectrically connected to one of the conductive plates, a negativeelectrical terminal electrically connected to another of the conductiveplates, and a non-conductive adjuster plate separating the housing intoa front chamber and a rear chamber, the adjuster plate having at leastone fluid passageway, and wherein a portion of the spaced apart platesare disposed in the front chamber and a portion of the spaced apartplates are disposed in the rear chamber.
 9. The reaction chamber ofclaim 8, further including a mixture of water and a catalyst within thehousing and in contact with the conductive plates.
 10. The reactionchamber of claim 9, wherein a second reaction chamber is connected tothe first reaction chamber, and wherein the first and second reactionchambers may be configured in series with respect to a voltage source orin parallel with respect to a voltage source.
 11. The reaction chamberof claim 9, wherein the catalyst is a chemical that will break down thesurface tension of the water and serve as an electrolyte.
 12. Thereaction chamber of claim 8, wherein the adjuster plate includes amoveable member adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluidcommunication through the at least one fluid passageway between thefront and rear chambers.
 13. The reaction chamber of claim 8, whereinthe adjuster plate includes a first and a second conductive platedisposed on opposite sides of the control plate.
 14. An apparatus forseparating hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising: a reaction chamberincluding a plurality of spaced apart conductive plates, a positiveelectrical terminal electrically connected to one of the conductiveplates, and a negative electrical terminal electrically connected toanother of the conductive plates, at least one of the conductive platesnot being electrically connected to the positive terminal or thenegative terminal; a collector-separator including at least one inletconduit in communication with the reaction chamber, and an outletconduit; and a bubbler including an outlet port and a perforated tube,the perforated tube being in communication with the outlet conduit ofthe collector-separator.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, furtherincluding a non-conductive adjuster plate separating the reactionchamber into a front chamber and a rear chamber, the adjuster platehaving at least one fluid passageway, and wherein a portion of thespaced apart plates are disposed in the front chamber and a portion ofthe spaced apart plates are disposed in the rear chamber.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the adjuster plate includes a moveablemember adapted to adjust the cross-sectional area of fluid communicationthrough the at least one fluid passageway between the front and rearchambers.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the adjuster plateincludes a first and a second conductive plate disposed on oppositesides of the adjuster plate.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, furtherincluding a mixture of water and a catalyst within the reaction chamberand in contact with the conductive plates.
 19. The apparatus of claim14, further including a controller having an on/off switch and an AC toDC converter, and electrically connected to the negative terminal andthe positive terminal.
 20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein theapparatus includes two reaction chambers, each having a positiveterminal and a negative terminal, and wherein the controller includes aseries/parallel switch wired to the terminals and adapted to switch theelectrical connections between a series electrical flow through thereaction chambers and a parallel electrical flow between the reactionchambers.
 21. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a pressureregulator in fluid communication with the collector-separator and thebubbler, and adapted to restrict electricity flow to the reactionchamber at a predetermined high pressure and allow electricity flow tothe reaction chamber at a predetermined low pressure.
 22. A method ofseparating hydrogen and oxygen from water comprising: positioning aplurality of spaced apart conductive plates in a chamber; separating thechamber into a first and second chamber with an adjustor plate;connecting one of the conductive plates to a positive terminal in thefirst chamber and another of the conductive plates to a negativeterminal in the second chamber, at least one of the spaced apartconductive plates not being connected to the positive terminal ornegative terminal; filling the chamber with a mixture of water and acatalyst such that the conductive plates are in contact with themixture; passing electricity through the mixture; adjusting thecross-sectional area of contact between the fluid mixture in the frontchamber and the fluid mixture in the rear chamber with the adjustorplate; and. allowing hydrogen and oxygen to exit the chamber.